The Fates of Famous Figures Under the Pressure of Power from the Russian Empire to Our Days
In the history of Russia, many outstanding artists and public figures have faced repression and were forced to emigrate because of their views and creativity, which contradicted the official line of power. In our time, the situation has changed little, and many modern oppositionists and cultural figures continue to face persecution, arrests, and are forced to leave the country. In this article, I have compiled brief biographies of famous personalities who have faced repression and emigration, starting from the times of the Russian Empire and ending with modern Russia. This list is far from complete and, unfortunately, continues to be supplemented with new names.
Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837, Russian Empire) – A poet who faced censorship and governmental pressure. His works, including “Ode to Liberty,” displeased Emperor Alexander I, leading to his exile in the southern provinces. Although publication opportunities were limited there, he continued his creative work.
Mikhail Lermontov (1814-1841, Russian Empire) – A poet whose fate was tragically sealed after a duel and his poem “Death of the Poet,” dedicated to Pushkin’s death. His open criticism of authority displeased the tsar, resulting in his exile to the Caucasus, where he eventually died in another duel.
Alexander Herzen (1812-1870, Russian Empire) — a writer and thinker, considered the father of Russian socialism. Herzen faced oppression and persecution for his radical political views, which ultimately led to his emigration. In exile, he founded the “Free Russian Press” in London, the first independent printing organization that played a key role in spreading liberal and socialist ideas among Russians.
Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881, Russian Empire) – A writer sentenced to death for participating in the anti-government Petrashevsky Circle. His sentence was commuted to penal servitude in Siberia, followed by exile and military service, profoundly influencing his work and worldview.
Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910, Russian Empire) – A writer celebrated for his literary works and philosophical views, which led to his excommunication from the church. Tolstoy criticized the church and advocated for his ideas on morality and spirituality, resulting in his exclusion from the religious community.
Ilya Repin (1844-1930, Russian Empire) – An artist who moved to Finland seeking solitude and tranquility for his art amidst the revolutionary turmoil in Russia. His relocation was also motivated by a desire to avoid direct involvement in the political upheavals of the time.
Vaslav Nijinsky (1890-1950, Russian Empire) – A ballet master who left Russia during a time of political instability and revolutionary changes. Emigration proved to be a salvation for his career, though it came with challenges of adapting to new conditions abroad.
Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944, USSR) – An artist who left Russia due to disagreements with Soviet policies on art. His pursuit of abstractionism was recognized and celebrated in the West, where he was able to fully realize his creative potential.
Dmitry Merezhkovsky (1866-1941, USSR) – A writer who emigrated after the October Revolution, rejecting Bolshevik power and fearing repression for his monarchist and religious views.
Zinaida Gippius (1869-1945, USSR) – A writer and wife of Dmitry Merezhkovsky, she emigrated with him due to their shared disdain for the new Soviet power and fear of repression.
Varlam Shalamov (1907-1982, USSR) — a writer, author of the famous “Kolyma Tales,” which are based on his personal experiences and describe life and conditions in the Gulag. Having spent 17 years in labor camps, Shalamov reflected in his works the cruelty and hopelessness faced by the prisoners. His writings were banned in the Soviet Union and were not published during his lifetime.
Ivan Bunin (1870-1953, USSR) – A writer who emigrated in 1920, openly opposing communism. He became the first Russian to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1933.
Fyodor Chaliapin (1873-1938, USSR) – An opera singer who emigrated due to restrictions in artistic activity and disagreement with the Soviet government’s policies on art.
Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943, USSR) – A composer who emigrated after the October Revolution, unwilling to live under the new regime that limited creative freedom and threatened his family.
Nikolai Berdyaev (1874-1948, USSR) – A philosopher exiled from Soviet Russia in 1922 aboard the “Philosophers’ Ship” along with other intellectuals whose views did not align with Bolshevik ideology.
Vsevolod Meyerhold (1874-1940, USSR) – A director who was arrested and killed during Stalin’s purges. His innovative approach to theater did not meet the ideological requirements of the authorities.
Zinaida Reich (1894-1939, USSR) – An actress and wife of Meyerhold, she was killed during Stalin’s purges following the arrest and torture of her husband.
Teffi (Nadezhda Lokhvitskaya) (1872-1952, USSR) – A writer who emigrated after the revolution due to her disagreement with the communist government and fears for her life and creative freedom.
Marc Chagall (1887-1985, USSR) – An artist who emigrated after 1917 because his artwork did not fit within the confines of socialist realism and was not recognized by the new authority.
Nikolai Gumilev (1886-1921, USSR) – A poet executed in the context of political repressions for alleged involvement in an anti-monarchist conspiracy. His death was a significant blow to Russian literature.
Anna Akhmatova (1889-1966, USSR) – A poetess who faced repression and a ban on publications. Her husband and son were arrested, and she was forced to live under constant fear and surveillance.
Osip Mandelstam (1891-1938, USSR) – A poet who was arrested and died in detention under harsh conditions and abuses. His work was deemed anti-Soviet, leading to his arrest.
Sasha Chorny (Alexander Glikberg) (1880-1932, USSR) – A poet who emigrated due to political pressure and the impossibility of freely publishing his works in Soviet Russia. After emigration, he continued his literary activity, but now abroad.
Mikhail Chekhov (1891-1955, Russian Empire) – An actor and director who left the USSR unable to continue his theatrical activity under repressive policies. He moved to the USA, where he became known for his teaching methodologies.
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971, USSR) – A composer who emigrated after the October Revolution, as his music did not meet the requirements of the new authority and did not fit within the bounds of socialist realism.
Vladimir Nabokov (1899-1977, USSR) – A writer who emigrated due to revolutionary changes that threatened his safety and creative freedom. Nabokov became known for his works written in English, including “Lolita”.
Philosophers’ Ship (1922) – An event during which the Soviet government expelled more than 160 intellectuals, including Nikolai Berdyaev and Sergei Bulgakov, to rid themselves of dissenters and those whose views did not align with Bolshevik ideology.
Sergei Yesenin (1895-1925, USSR) – A poet who took his own life after conflicts with the authorities and due to pressure related to his literary activities and personal life. His death was a tragedy for Russian literature.
Vladimir Mayakovsky (1893-1930, USSR) – A poet who took his own life influenced by personal and professional crises, as well as pressure from the authorities. His work did not always align with the official party line, complicating his life and work.
Nikolai Vavilov (1887-1943, USSR) – A geneticist-scientist who was arrested and died in detention due to accusations of anti-Soviet activity. His work on plant breeding did not align with the pseudoscientific theories supported by the Soviet leadership.
Solomon Mikhoels (1890-1948, USSR) – An actor and director who was killed as part of an anti-Semitic campaign on Stalin’s orders. His murder was disguised as a car accident.
Isaac Babel (1894-1940, USSR) – A writer who was arrested, tortured, and executed on suspicions of espionage and anti-Soviet activity. His works were banned and removed from libraries.
Nikolai Zabolotsky (1903-1958, USSR) – A poet who was sent to a camp for several years for his literary works, which did not meet the ideological standards of Soviet authority.
Alexander Vvedensky (1904-1941, USSR) – A poet who died en route to a camp where he was sent for anti-Soviet activity. His innovative poetic experiments did not align with the official literary line of the party.
Olga Berggolts (1910-1975, USSR) – A poetess who was beaten and lost a child during interrogations by the NKVD. Despite the repression, she became a symbol of the besieged Leningrad and continued her literary activity.
Marina Tsvetaeva (1892-1941, USSR) – A poetess who was exiled and driven to suicide due to the inability to freely publish her works and pressure from the authorities.
Daniil Kharms (1905-1942, USSR) – A writer who died of starvation in a psychiatric hospital after being arrested for anti-Soviet activity. His works were banned during his lifetime and published only posthumously.
Dmitry Likhachev (1906-1999, USSR) – An art historian who was arrested, exiled, and fired from his job for his scientific and literary research, which did not meet the ideological requirements of the Soviet authority.
Yevgeny Schwartz (1896-1958, USSR) – A playwright who faced bans on publications and criticism from the authorities for his satirical works that lampooned bureaucracy and totalitarianism.
Anti-Fascist Committee (1940s, USSR) – A committee whose members were executed during Stalin’s purges on charges of anti-Soviet activity and espionage.
Boris Pasternak (1890-1960, USSR) – A writer who faced persecution and bans on publications for his novel “Doctor Zhivago,” which was deemed anti-Soviet. Pasternak was forced to decline the Nobel Prize in Literature under pressure from the authorities.
Mikhail Bulgakov – A writer who faced censorship and bans. His works, including “The Master and Margarita,” were not published during his lifetime and were recognized as anti-Soviet.
Alexander Solzhenitsyn (1918-2008, USSR) – A writer who was exiled and later forced to emigrate for his works criticizing the Soviet authority and the Gulag. He was stripped of his Soviet citizenship and lived in emigration until 1994.
Andrei Tarkovsky (1932-1986, USSR) — a director and screenwriter, whose films, including “Andrei Rublev,” “Stalker,” and “Mirror,” are known for their deep philosophical content and innovative form. Tarkovsky often faced censorship and restrictions in his creative activities, which eventually led him to emigrate to Western Europe, where he continued his work in a more liberally creative atmosphere.
Yuri Lyubimov (1917-2014, USSR/Russia) – A theatrical director who was stripped of citizenship in 1984 for criticizing the Soviet system. Lyubimov continued his career abroad and returned to Russia only after perestroika.
Andrei Sakharov (1921-1989, USSR) – A physicist and human rights advocate who was exiled for his criticism of Soviet policies and his fight for human rights. He was stripped of all awards and titles but continued his human rights work from exile.
Sergei Dovlatov (1941-1990, USSR) – A writer who emigrated in 1979 due to the impossibility of publishing his works in the Soviet Union. His works, written in emigration, were recognized only after his death.
Grigory Rodchenkov (b. 1958, USSR) – The former head of the Moscow anti-doping laboratory, who emigrated to the USA after exposing the state doping program. His testimony became the basis for investigations and sanctions against Russian sports.
Rudolf Nureyev (1938-1993, USSR) — an outstanding ballet dancer who defected from the USSR in 1961 during the Kirov Ballet’s tour in Paris. His escape became an international sensation and a serious blow to the prestige of the Soviet Union amidst the Cold War. Faced with close attention from the KGB and the authorities’ displeasure for his sympathies towards the West, Nureyev found asylum in France and continued his brilliant career in the West, while in the USSR, he was sentenced in absentia to prison.
Maria Alekhina (Pussy Riot) (b. 1988, Russia) – An activist and member of the punk group Pussy Riot, who left Russia after persecution for her political actions and criticism of the authorities. She continues her human rights activities in emigration.
Anton Dolin (b. 1976, Russia) – A film critic who moved to Riga due to threats and pressure related to his professional activity and criticism of Russian authorities. Dolin left Russia in 2022 after the start of the war against Ukraine, as his anti-war stance and critical statements elicited negative reactions from the authorities and war supporters.
Artur Smolyaninov (b. 1983, Russia) – An actor who left Russia in 2022 due to his criticism of government policies and the war in Ukraine. Smolyaninov repeatedly spoke out against the Russian government, leading to persecution and threats against him. He continues his professional activity abroad.
Little Big (Russia) – A musical group known for their satirical and provocative videos, left Russia due to disagreement with the political situation in the country and pressure from the authorities. In 2022, the group members emigrated, continuing their music career abroad.
Anastasia Davydova (b. 1983, Russia) – An Olympic champion in synchronized swimming, who left Russia due to political pressure and threats. She moved to another country to continue her sports and coaching career in safer conditions.
Alexander Nevzorov (b. 1958, Russia) – A journalist and publicist, known for his critical statements against Russian authorities and politics. In 2022, Nevzorov left Russia due to threats to his life and persecution for his journalistic activity. He continues his work abroad, actively speaking out against the war in Ukraine and the political regime in Russia.
Yevgeny Berkovich and Svetlana Petriychuk (b. 1984 and 1985, Russia) – Arrested for staging a theatrical play, which was perceived by the authorities as propaganda of extremism and an insult to the feelings of believers. This was part of a broader campaign to suppress freedom of creativity and critical statements in Russia.
Boris Akunin (Grigory Chkhartishvili) (b. 1956, Russia) – A writer against whom a criminal case was initiated for his critical statements and support for opposition movements. Akunin left Russia, fearing arrest and persecution, and continues his literary activity abroad.
Vasily Berezin and Stas Falkov (Russia) – Artists who founded a collective of exiled Russian artists in Paris. They left Russia due to pressure on freedom of creativity and threats from the authorities. Their works often had a political character and criticized contemporary Russian society and politics.
Alexei Navalny (1976-2024, Russia) – An opposition politician who died in custody in 2024. His death is widely regarded as murder linked to his political activity and fight against corruption in Russia. Navalny was known for his anti-corruption investigations and active opposition activity, for which he was repeatedly arrested and repressed.
Memorial (Russia) – A human rights organization that was liquidated in 2021. Memorial was engaged in investigating and documenting political repressions in the Soviet Union and modern Russia, as well as protecting human rights. The organization was recognized as a “foreign agent” and subjected to pressure from the authorities, leading to its closure.
Oleg Orlov (b. 1953, Russia) – The head of the human rights organization “Memorial,” sentenced to 2.5 years in a colony. Orlov was accused of discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, in the context of the ongoing campaign against human rights defenders and their activities.
Dmitry Muratov (b. 1961, Russia) – A journalist, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who was attacked in 2022. Muratov, the chief editor of “Novaya Gazeta,” repeatedly received threats and faced pressure due to publications criticizing the actions of Russian authorities and corruption.
TV Channel “Dozhd” (Russia) – An independent TV channel forced to cease broadcasting in Russia in 2022 due to pressure from the authorities. “Dozhd” is known for its objective and critical reports on political and social issues in Russia. After ceasing broadcasting in Russia, the channel continued its work abroad.
Dmitry Ivanov (Kamikadze Di) (b. 1986, Russia) – A blogger and journalist, known for his sharp and critical performances against the Russian government. Ivanov was attacked, which forced him to move to the Czech Republic. He continues to actively spread information about the political situation in Russia.
Vladimir Kara-Murza (b. 1981, Russia) – An opposition politician and journalist, known for his active anti-government performances. Kara-Murza was repeatedly poisoned, presumably due to his political activity. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison for criticizing Russia’s military actions in Ukraine and ties with an “undesirable” organization. In May 2023, the court rejected his appeal, leaving the sentence unchanged. Kara-Murza also suffers from polyneuropathy, a condition that has worsened in prison conditions.
Mark Feigin (b. 1971, Russia) – A lawyer and human rights defender who emigrated to France. He gained wide recognition for defending politically persecuted individuals, including members of the group “Pussy Riot” and Ukrainian journalists. Due to his professional activity and criticism of the Russian government, Feigin was subjected to pressure and was declared wanted in 2023.
Ilya Yashin (b. 1983, Russia) – A politician and activist, one of the leaders of the Russian opposition, known for his criticism of the authorities. In 2022, Yashin was arrested and sentenced to 8.5 years for disseminating “false” data about Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
Artem Kamardin (b. 1990, Russia) – A poet sentenced by the Tverskoy Court of Moscow to 7 years of imprisonment for reading poems against military actions of Russia in Ukraine.
Yegor Shtovba (b. 2000, Russia) – An accomplice in the literary reading of Artem Kamardin, sentenced by the Tverskoy Court of Moscow to 5.5 years of imprisonment. He was accused of disseminating “false” data about military actions of Russia in Ukraine, as part of the same judicial campaign against freedom of speech.
Mail Naki (b. 1993, Russia) – An artist and public activist, known for his anti-war performances and criticism of the authorities. Due to his position and public actions, he was subjected to pressure and threats from the state, which forced him to leave Russia and continue his activities abroad.
Maxim Galkin (b. 1976, Russia) – A humorist and TV presenter, who left Russia in 2022 after being recognized as a “foreign agent” for criticizing the Russian government and the war in Ukraine. Galkin continues his professional activity abroad, actively speaking out against the war.
Alla Pugacheva (b. 1949, Russia) – A singer and actress, who left Russia in 2022 due to disagreement with government policies and the start of military actions in Ukraine. Pugacheva openly supported her husband Maxim Galkin, who was recognized as a “foreign agent”. She moved to Israel and continues her activity abroad.
Group “Nogu Svelo!” – A Russian rock group, whose leader Maxim Pokrovsky left Russia in 2022 due to disagreement with government policies and the war in Ukraine. The group continues its activity abroad, actively speaking out against the war and supporting anti-war actions.
Group “Bi-2” – A Russian rock group, whose members were subjected to pressure from the authorities for their political views. In 2022, the group was forced to cancel its concerts in Russia and partially emigrated, continuing their musical activity abroad.
Vitaly Mansky (b. 1963, Russia) – A documentary filmmaker who left Russia in 2014 and moved to Riga, Latvia. Mansky is known for his critical films, often focusing on political and social issues. In 2014, he initiated the signing of the open letter “We are with You!” in support of Ukrainian filmmakers against the Russian military intervention in Ukraine. In 2022, he spoke out against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and was declared wanted by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs on charges of defamation. In 2023, the Russian Ministry of Justice included him in the list of foreign agents. Mansky continues to actively work in the field of documentary cinema abroad, organizing the Artdocfest/Riga festival and receiving recognition for his films at international film festivals.
